Hail to the Pistons, honestly & their loyal fans

[Tanya]

I am happy Flip FINALLY decides to play the bench at the end of the regular season. If we want to have a bench in the playoffs this year, it's time to let them play and rest the starters. Thank god, Dice, Delk and Hunter are playing great now. Thank god, we have a bench this year.
I still believe a team with a deeper bench will go further. The spurs is still a better team, from the coach to the starters to the bench. But to beat the pistons they have to play really tough, both physically and mentally. If both teams meet in the final again there will be a very great series. They are both good at finishing games, but who is better?
They deserve to be there. They only want to play each other.

[Pistons < Spurs]

I am happy Flip FINALLY decides to play the bench at the end of the regular season.

He didn't. Ben and Sheed told him they "couldn't go" in the 4th.

[Tanya]

He didn't. Ben and Sheed told him they "couldn't go" in the 4th.

"couldn't go"? They refused to play in the 4th quarter? Why??

[Amuseddaysleeper]

"couldn't go"? They refused to play in the 4th quarter? Why??

contract disputes

[Pistons < Spurs]

"couldn't go"? They refused to play in the 4th quarter? Why??

Don't know. Flip didn't elaborate. But those were his post game comments when asked.

[JamStone]

I am happy Flip FINALLY decides to play the bench at the end of the regular season. If we want to have a bench in the playoffs this year, it's time to let them play and rest the starters. Thank god, Dice, Delk and Hunter are playing great now. Thank god, we have a bench this year.
I still believe a team with a deeper bench will go further. The spurs is still a better team, from the coach to the starters to the bench. But to beat the pistons they have to play really tough, both physically and mentally. If both teams meet in the final again there will be a very great series. They are both good at finishing games, but who is better?
They deserve to be there. They only want to play each other.

I think even many Spurs fans would concede that the Pistons have the better starters (overall). It's true the Spurs have the better coach, better bench, and I'll go with better individual players, but the starting line-up (as a whole) is the one advantage the Pistons have.

[T.F. Storm]

He didn't. Ben and Sheed told him they "couldn't go" in the 4th.

WTF I didnt hear that. Strange. Mustve been worn out from being squashed by Snaq.

[JamStone]

"couldn't go"

Several possible explanations:

1. Ben and Rasheed were extremely exhausted from defending Shaquille O'Neal the night before and just couldn't bring the type of energy necessary to be productive out on the court.

2. Flip realized that Ben and Rasheed were playing uninspired and lazy on the court and decided to go with other guys.

3. Flip wanted to rest both Ben and Rasheed for the Pacers game since it is an afternoon game on Sunday.

4. Flip was testing some of his bench players to see how they would respond in meaningful minutes of a close game.

5. Ben and Rasheed were hurt and they and Flip took precautionary measures to make sure they wouldn't be further injured.

6. Flip wanted to give Darko and Carlos Arroyo a gift win because he's a softy.

7. Flip naively feels the Pistons have locked up homecourt even though technically the Spurs still have a good chance to get it back ... especially before the outcome of the Spurs-Mavs game.

8. All of the above or some combination of the above.

[Tanya]

"couldn't go"

Several possible explanations:

1. Ben and Rasheed were extremely exhausted from defending Shaquille O'Neal the night before and just couldn't bring the type of energy necessary to be productive out on the court.

2. Flip realized that Ben and Rasheed were playing uninspired and lazy on the court and decided to go with other guys.

3. Flip wanted to rest both Ben and Rasheed for the Pacers game since it is an afternoon game on Sunday.

4. Flip was testing some of his bench players to see how they would respond in meaningful minutes of a close game.

5. Ben and Rasheed were hurt and they and Flip took precautionary measures to make sure they wouldn't be further injured.

6. Flip wanted to give Darko and Carlos Arroyo a gift win because he's a softy.

7. Flip naively feels the Pistons have locked up homecourt even though technically the Spurs still have a good chance to get it back ... especially before the outcome of the Spurs-Mavs game.

8. All of the above or some combination of the above.

I can accept all of those reasons and I actually were happy when Flip was using the bench in crunch time. But... If Sheed and Ben told Flip they "couldn't go" then it is different story. As I know, Ben and Sheed would never ask for rest. And they don't lose nothing for playing a little bit longer for a winnable game.
Did Flip look pissed when saying that? Oh sorry spurs fan, I think we start to talking off topic.